Nobunaga’s Ambition Realized: Dawn of a New Rising Sun

[Ambassador Huntsman]

Chapter 96: The Amur Intervention and Nobuhiro’s Ascension​

​

In early 1663, an ambassador from the Amur Khanate would present himself before daijo-daijin Kanbe Tomoyoshi in Azuchi with an urgent request from khan Sahaliyan. By this time, the Russian-Cossack presence on the banks of the Amur River had grown significantly, its growth unchecked after their successful defense of Achansk in 1652. Outposts like Albazin and Kumarsk sprung up while Russian Cossacks indulged themselves in pillaging raids upon the native population, looting villages and raping local women, and the Amur Khanate was too preoccupied with the threat of invasions from the Northern Yuan or the Lesser Jin to effectively deal with the sporadic incursions coming from heavily fortified quarters. Hence, they now turned to the Japanese who, unlike Ming China or Joseon, had remained relatively uninvolved in Jurchen affairs. This would lead to the Amur Intervention, an event that opened the doors for greater Japanese involvement in the far northern frontier, especially in regards to the Jurchens and the Russians.

After deliberation amongst members of the Sangi-shu and approval from the Shinka-in, Tomoyoshi would charge Sakuma Moritora with rooting out the Russian presence and expanding Japanese influence in the region in the process, while Tagawa Seikou was ordered to use the Azuchi navy to transport the mobilized army and seize control of the northern seas from the Europeans. The Chinjufu shogun would lead an army of 10,000 onto the Amur river valley with a surplus of cannons and other siege weapons to accomplish what the horse archers of the Amur Khanate could not in the face of fortified outposts. In addition to the sophistication of the Japanese military and the manpower the realm could draw from, Moritora would also had luck on his side, for the Muscovites were mired in the middle of the Second Northern War against Sweden and its allies on the other side of the world [1] and thus would not be able to provide sufficient aid in time. This would prove fortuitous for the Japanese-Jurchen coalition.

On July 10th, 1663, Moritora landed on the Amur coast and subsequently paid their respects to the khan. An agreement was also signed where the Japanese gained a lease from the khanate to establish and maintain a coastal port, with the lease subject to review and renewal between the two parties. This coastal port would become known as Kokuryutsu (黒龍津) after the river it was situated near [2] [3]. 5,000 Jurchens led by senior commander Bahai also joined Moritora’s forces, bringing the total strength of anti-Russian forces to 15,000. In the campaign that followed, the army swiftly mopped up the Amur region of Russians and Cossacks, culminating in the siege of Albazin which lasted into 1664 due to unsuitable weather conditions that led to the deaths of hundreds of Japanese men not used to the freezing cold of the region. Albazin would eventually fall thanks to the artillery the Japanese had brought along and by the spring of 1664, the Russians and Cossacks had been thoroughly cleaned out and driven north.​

1663-1664 siege of Albazin​

Through the Amur Intervention, Japan formally entered the intricate series of alliances and rivalries that would define the struggle for control over the far northern frontier of mainland Asia for the rest of the 17th century and beyond. Within one campaign, Azuchi gained its first foothold on the mainland and a close ally but also drew the alarm and anxiety of Hetu Ala, Hanseong, and even Beijing. For King Gyeongseon in Joseon in particular, the Amur Intervention and Japan’s newfound influence in the Amur river valley was an obstacle towards asserting his realm’s dominance over all the Jurchens like his predecessors had previously. Meanwhile, the Amur Intervention kicked off a series of sporadic conflicts and skirmishes between the Russians and the Japanese-Jurchen alliance stemming from a lack of any formal treaty between the two sides. From the new port of Kokuryutsu, however, Azuchi would keep close watch while also expanding the fur trade and harvesting the rich natural resources of the region’s seas and forests.

This, along with the conclusion of the Luzon War, would be the highlights of Kanbe Tomoyoshi’s foreign policy during his tenure as chancellor of the realm. He would also work to revitalize diplomatic relations with Europe which had been neglected during the regency of Konoe Toshishige. Internally, Emperor Go-Koumyou was forced to retire by Azuchi in favor of the ascension of Prince Nagahito (長仁親王), the first son of Retired Emperor Hachijou, as Emperor Takamatsu. Finally, the long-lasting Date Disturbance was finally resolved in 1664 with the intervention of the central government, although the infighting within the clan left it weakened and unable to reclaim its former pre-eminence in the Oshu region. By 1665, the government and the realm had returned to its past prestige and stability in the good hands of Tomoyoshi, his allies, and other major figures. Keeping the promise he had made upon his ascension to the chancellorship, however, the daijo-daijin would step down after his 3 years. After 12 years as a child at the head of the Oda clan, Oda Nobuhiro would finally become the chancellor of the Japanese realm and once more, a member of the main line of the clan was at the helm of state. Tomoyoshi in his retirement would continue to influence the government as the Oogosho until his death in 1672.​

Portrait of a teenage Oda Nobuhiro​

As his involvement in central politics diminished in the last 7 years, Tomoyoshi nevertheless left behind a domestic and military legacy both in the home islands and among Japan’s overseas possessions. Starting life as the 10 year old adopted son of the dying Kanbe Nobuyoshi, Nobunaga’s 7th son, he emerged as Japan’s pivotal guard between itself and Manila. After a long tenure as Luson’s governor-general, he would seemingly rescue the rebellion from its inevitable deathbed and triumphantly march into Azuchi, proceeding to reforming the government and restoring peace and stability to the Japanese realm. His impact would be so great his allies and proteges would dominate politics for the entirety of Nobuhiro’s chancellorship, only seeing their pre-eminence unraveled at the hands of Nobuhiro’s unborn son and heir, Oda Nobuie (織田信家), down the line.
​

Members of the Sangi-shu 1649-1665

Ukita Nobuie (宇喜多信家): 1625-1655
Tokugawa Tadayasu (徳川忠康): 1630-1650
Oda Tomoaki (織田朝昭): 1633-1656
Akechi Mitsutada (明智光忠): 1633-1657
Kanbe Tomoyoshi (神戸朝吉): 1633-1661
Takigawa Kazutoshi (滝川一利): 1635-1660
Nanbu Shigenao (南部重直): 1636-1664
Ban Tomoharu (塙友治): 1637-1653
Kitabatake Takanaga (北畠高長): 1637-1662
Maeda Noriyuki (前田則之): 1639-1662
Imadegawa Tsunesue (今出川経季): 1640-1652
Asukai Masanobu (飛鳥井雅宣): 1641-1651
Date Norimune (伊達則宗): 1641-1658
Kajuuji Tsunehiro (勧修寺経広): 1641-
Mōri Tadamoto (毛利忠元): 1645-1651
Ikeda Yoshinori (池田由則): 1646-1659, 1662-
Kudō Kanetada (工藤包忠): 1649-1657
Mizuno Katsutoshi (水野勝俊): 1650-1655
Nijou Yasumichi (二条康道): 1651-1662
Shimazu Norihisa (島津則久): 1651-1661, 1662-
Seikanji Tomofusa (清閑寺共房): 1652-1661
Chosokabe Tadachika (長宗我部忠親): 1653-1659
Hashiba Hidemitsu (羽柴秀三): 1655-1662
Shibata Katsuoki (柴田勝興): 1655-1662
Miyoshi Yasunori (三好康則): 1656-1661
Asano Noriakira (浅野則晟): 1657-
Urakusai Nagaie (有楽斎長家): 1657-
Sakuma Moritora (佐久間盛虎): 1658-1661, 1662-
Kuki Takasue (九鬼隆季): 1659-1662
Akechi Mitsunori (明智光則): 1659-
Satake Yoshitaka (佐竹義隆): 1660-
Asukai Masaoki (飛鳥井雅章): 1661-
Ichijou Kanehiro (一条兼煕): 1662-
Kanbe Tomozane (神戸朝実): 1662-
Mori Tomoyoshi (森朝可): 1662-
Mōri Tsugumoto (毛利嗣元): 1662-
Saionji Kinnori (西園寺公則): 1662-
Sassa Katsutoyo (佐々勝豊): 1662-
Wakamatsu Tomohide (若松具秀): 1662-
Tokugawa Noriyasu (徳川則康): 1662-
Akita Morisue (秋田盛季): 1664-

Kyoto Shoshidai:
Hosokawa Yoshimoto (細川義元): 1644-1651
Hijikata Okitsugu (土方意次): 1651-1657
Kasuramaru Sukeyoshi (鳥丸資慶): 1657-1662
Oogimachi Sanetoyo (正親町実豊): 1662-

Azuchi bugyo (magistrate):
Tsumaki Yoritoshi (妻木頼利): 1641-1653
Hayashi Masatoshi (林正利): 1653-1662
Sakuma Moriyoshi (佐久間盛郎): 1662-

Oometsu-shoku (inspector general):
Sakuma Moriyoshi (佐久間盛郎): 1641-1651
Hosokawa Yoshimoto (細川義元): 1649-1657
Hijikata Okitsugu (土方意次): 1657-1662
Kondo Shigenao (近藤重直): 1662-

Chinjufu Shogun:
Date Norimune (伊達則宗):1640-1658
Sakuma Moritora (佐久間盛虎): 1658-

Eastern Shogun:
Tokugawa Tadayasu (徳川忠康): 1640-1650
Mizuno Katsutoshi (水野勝俊): 1650-1655
Shibata Katsuoki (柴田勝興): 1655-1662
Tokugawa Noriyasu (徳川則康): 1662-

Western Shogun:
Kitabatake Takanaga (北畠高長): 1640-1662
Ikeda Yoshinori (池田由則): 1662-

Shikoku Tandai:
Miyoshi Yasunori (三好康則): 1644-1661
Saionji Kinnori (西園寺公則): 1661-

Kyushu Tandai:
Shimazu Norihisa (島津則久): 1640-

Naval Shogun:
Wakizaka Yasumoto (脇坂安元): 1636-1654
Kuki Takasue (九鬼隆季): 1654-1662
Tagawa Seikou (田川成功): 1662-

Orange = Oda clan members, Blue = court nobility, Green = non-Japanese​

[1]: Different Second Northern War from OTL, will go into detail in the future.

[2]: TTL’s Nikolayevsk-on-Amur

[3]: The Amur River is known as the Heilongjiang River in Chinese, translated as the “Black Dragon River”.​

 

[GameBawesome]

Great chapter. Looks like Japan is getting a foothold in Siberia/Northern Manchuria

 

[Quinkana]

On July 10th, 1663, Moritora landed on the Amur coast and subsequently paid their respects to the khan. An agreement was also signed where the Japanese gained a lease from the khanate to establish and maintain a coastal port, with the lease subject to review and renewal between the two parties. This coastal port would become known as Namakotsu (海鼠津) for its abundance of sea cucumbers [2] [3]. 5,000 Jurchens led by senior commander Bahai also joined Moritora’s forces, bringing the total strength of anti-Russian forces to 15,000. In the campaign that followed, the army swiftly mopped up the Amur region of Russians and Cossacks, culminating in the siege of Albazin which lasted into 1664 due to unsuitable weather conditions that led to the deaths of hundreds of Japanese men not used to the freezing cold of the region. Albazin would eventually fall thanks to the artillery the Japanese had brought along and by the spring of 1664, the Russians and Cossacks had been thoroughly cleaned out and driven north.​

tbf a little disappointed that that the intervention is quite short, but considering the amount of soldiers in the region I think it makes sense.

I do wonder how the relations between Japan and nations like the Netherlands would be rn. The Netherlands should already built batavia and colonising Java, and they should be allies against other powers trying to shoulder into the spice trade.

I also wonder how would Joseon react to Japan coming close to their borders. Would we see Joseon increase their influence in the Amur Khanate too?

 

[Dragonboy]

@Ambassador Huntsman ! Loved the chapter! Japan is expanding and i love it!

 

[Tertius711]

Yes yes! Into Siberia!

 

[Kurd Gossemer]

Good to see Japan getting a foothold in Asia, hopefully they can expand further without ruffling too many feathers in Beijing and Korea, yet another war is the last thing Japan needs.

Also looking forward to how this alt Great Northern War plays out, if Charles XII hadn't been a idiot he could've kept most of Sweden's Baltic empire if he had only accepted Peter's peace deal.

 

[Herohunter]

Vladivostok

I thought the Koreans already held that area after their first expansion north into Jin territory.

 

[Bmao]

10,000 soldiers is quite a large intervention for a region that doesn't have much infrastructure and where the logistics are extremely difficult. Japanese military planners should be thanking the stars that more of them didn't die of exposure, and it could have easily ended up in disaster.

They could have easily accomplished the same thing with half or a third of the manpower, becuase as the update mentions, that many troops would also make Joeseon and China wary of Japanese intentions, aside from the dangerous logistical issues deploying that many troops to an underdeveloped region entails.

 

[Herohunter]

Yeah, 10,000 soldiers is quite a large intervention for a region that doesn't have much infrastructure and where the logistics are extremely difficult. Japanese military planners should be thanking the stars that more of them didn't die of exposure, and it could have easily ended up in disaster terribly wrong.

They could have easily accomplished the same thing with half or a third of the manpower.

It could be that some of those “soldiers” were just there to establish their new colony or build logistics lines as Camp followers.

 

[ChucK Y]

Wouldn't it take a long time for word about events on the Amur River to even reach Moscow? Something like a year, maybe?

 

[farmerted555]

I wonder what an 18th century Japanese army would look like?

 

[Simeon]

I wonder what an 18th century Japanese army would look like?

They already had flintlock muskets and bayonets by the time of the Great Oda Civil War — so they're probably on par with their European pike-and-shot counterparts. It's also mentioned that archers have largely disappeared from Japanese battlefields by this point in time, though swords still remain. They still have elite musketmen that are expected to be competent at close-quarters melee with their katanas.

Speaking of swords — have any legendary swords forged during these last time periods that you have written? Some of them must have also distinguished themselves in battle, and gain quite a history at that.

Bireitou and Ruson's richness in mineral and metal deposits should have already helped at that.

Through the Amur Intervention, Japan formally entered the intricate series of alliances and rivalries that would define the struggle for control over the far northern frontier of mainland Asia for the rest of the 17th century and beyond. Within one campaign, Azuchi gained its first foothold

Well — if this isn't an indication of the Ming and their successive Chinese governments' apathy and resignation towards the Japanese dominion over Bireitou and Ruson, I don't know what will.

The same can be likewise said over the independence of Ryukyu.

Trying to make China submit towards Japan, or Japan towards China is basically insanity by this point in time. The same can be said even of Korea.

At most, it will either be a Japanese samurai clan or a cadet line of the Japanese Imperial Family taking over the Dragon Throne alongside their own personal set of politically-dominating retinue that will eventually assimilate into Chinese culture anyway.

On the other hand — China really needs to have its kinks over its diplomatic recognition of Japan sorted out before the Japanese Emperor restores their own power and their Heavenly Sovereign title get in the way of the latter's tributary relations with the former.

 

[Quinkana]

Good to see Japan getting a foothold in Asia, hopefully they can expand further without ruffling too many feathers in Beijing and Korea, yet another war is the last thing Japan needs.

tbf I think we'd see Joseon being forced to act afterwards. Their Northern border is very important, and allowing a power like Japan to control that border is way too risky for them. I see Joseon marching into Manchuria especially after this to push various different powers out of their background. Hopefully we'd see it occurring soon...

Also looking forward to how this alt Great Northern War plays out, if Charles XII hadn't been a idiot he could've kept most of Sweden's Baltic empire if he had only accepted Peter's peace deal.

I hope Sweden doesn't get totally fucked over and doesn't lose their possessions in the Baltic. Swedish Ingria is so fun.

Well — if this isn't an indication of the Ming and their successive Chinese governments' apathy and resignation towards the Japanese dominion over Bireitou and Ruson, I don't know what will.

The Ming probably would slide into inactivity as they've rarely actually had a blue sea navy to enact their will beyond the seas. Even tho the Ming did send a giant fleet times like that're long gone.

 

[generalurist]

If the aim is to secure routes into the Amur region, wouldn't it make more sense to establish the outpost at OTL's Nikolayevsk-on-amur? It's at the mouth of the river, thus allowing transport by water deep into the interior. Especially since the area is very sparsely populated so moving 10K footmen with artillery by land would be pretty hard.

I'm a little confused what made Japan so eager to intervene in the first place, given they hardly took interest in continental affairs and Manchuria before.

 

[Simeon]

If the aim is to secure routes into the Amur region, wouldn't it make more sense to establish the outpost at OTL's Nikolayevsk-on-amur? It's at the mouth of the river, thus allowing transport by water deep into the interior. Especially since the area is very sparsely populated so moving 10K footmen with artillery by land would be pretty hard.

I'm a little confused what made Japan so eager to intervene in the first place, given they hardly took interest in continental affairs and Manchuria before.

They are aware on how threatening Europeans can be when established as shown by the war in Luzon and their embassy in France. Moreover, there's the chancellor's arrangement with Sakuma Moritora's initiative in growing Japanese power to the north, which disporportionately benefits the latter of course.

 

[Herohunter]

If the aim is to secure routes into the Amur region, wouldn't it make more sense to establish the outpost at OTL's Nikolayevsk-on-amur? It's at the mouth of the river, thus allowing transport by water deep into the interior.

I assume its because Japan:
A: already has northern Karafuto which is situated right next to the mouth of the Amur river
B: has the strongest navy in north Eastern Asia and could move into the area at there leisure
C: is already allied and neighbors with the Amur Khanate (whom I assume we are not gonna conquer baring interesting circumstances) so we can just trade with them thur a the Amur controlled (Japanese Built?) Nikolayevsk

D: Vladivostok is the better concession because:
D-1: gives us better access to trade to Korea, China, Mongolia, and Jin (whom I believe are going to be partitioned soon)
D-2: theoretically blocks further unwanted Korean expansion along the Amur coast.
D-3: Vladivostok has a larger warmer natural port
D-4: a Japanese Vladivostok would be better situated to take advantage of land caravan opportunities for Asian step trade then Nikolayevk
D-5: is less threatening to the Amur then Nikolayevk

I'm a little confused what made Japan so eager to intervene in the first place, given they hardly took interest in continental affairs and Manchuria before.

I can think of a few reasons
1: We were becoming increasingly involved with The north Asia fur trade, this solidifies our access to the Amur watershed and knocks out a future competitor.
2: the previous Oda chancellor before the whole recent coup nonsense pressed for war on Russia.
3: it was a great opportunity since further war with Spain in the south was not to their interest, and neither was war with Korea or China to the west.
4: it was a good way of getting rid of excess soldiers, who might turn bandit without a war.
5: Russia if allowed to annex Amur would become a massive threat and rival to Japanese hold over the sea of Okhotsk
6: victory in this splendid little war (along with the Spanish war) is a strong symbol of reunification for a Japan devastated by Civil War.

 

[Ambassador Huntsman]

I do wonder how the relations between Japan and nations like the Netherlands would be rn. The Netherlands should already built batavia and colonising Java, and they should be allies against other powers trying to shoulder into the spice trade.

Still pretty good, a full update to come in a future chapter.

I also wonder how would Joseon react to Japan coming close to their borders. Would we see Joseon increase their influence in the Amur Khanate too?

Joseon is more likely to increase the power of the more closely aligned Lesser Jin.

I thought the Koreans already held that area after their first expansion north into Jin territory.

They annexed interior portions of Manchuria but not coastal sites.

10,000 soldiers is quite a large intervention for a region that doesn't have much infrastructure and where the logistics are extremely difficult. Japanese military planners should be thanking the stars that more of them didn't die of exposure, and it could have easily ended up in disaster.

They could have easily accomplished the same thing with half or a third of the manpower, becuase as the update mentions, that many troops would also make Joeseon and China wary of Japanese intentions, aside from the dangerous logistical issues deploying that many troops to an underdeveloped region entails.

The involvement by itself did actually cost the lives of many Japanese ashigaru unaccustomed to the cold climate. Total casualties are 1,000-2,000 including deaths from attrition by siege, direct combat, and weather.

Wouldn't it take a long time for word about events on the Amur River to even reach Moscow? Something like a year, maybe?

Yeah pretty much, and Moscow doesn't have the resources to send reinforcements a timely manner.

Good to see Japan getting a foothold in Asia, hopefully they can expand further without ruffling too many feathers in Beijing and Korea, yet another war is the last thing Japan needs.

Also looking forward to how this alt Great Northern War plays out, if Charles XII hadn't been a idiot he could've kept most of Sweden's Baltic empire if he had only accepted Peter's peace deal.

I wouldn't say this is an alternate Great Northern War exactly but more of a unique scenario created by the butterflies. Not to mention, John IV Sigismund Vasa is not that young... (he was born in 1637)

If the aim is to secure routes into the Amur region, wouldn't it make more sense to establish the outpost at OTL's Nikolayevsk-on-amur? It's at the mouth of the river, thus allowing transport by water deep into the interior. Especially since the area is very sparsely populated so moving 10K footmen with artillery by land would be pretty hard.

I'm a little confused what made Japan so eager to intervene in the first place, given they hardly took interest in continental affairs and Manchuria before.

Japan sees a northerly warm-water port as a better deal and have an interest in expanding and securing its fur trade and preventing the growth of Russian power. As Japan has strong diplomatic relations with countries like the Netherlands and France, they have greater insight and knowledge on Moscow compared to the Jurchens or Joseon for instance.

I assume its because Japan:
A: already has northern Karafuto which is situated right next to the mouth of the Amur river
B: has the strongest navy in north Eastern Asia and could move into the area at there leisure
C: is already allied and neighbors with the Amur Khanate (whom I assume we are not gonna conquer baring interesting circumstances) so we can just trade with them thur a the Amur controlled (Japanese Built?) Nikolayevsk

D: Vladivostok is the better concession because:
D-1: gives us better access to trade to Korea, China, Mongolia, and Jin (whom I believe are going to be partitioned soon)
D-2: theoretically blocks further unwanted Korean expansion along the Amur coast.
D-3: Vladivostok has a larger warmer natural port
D-4: a Japanese Vladivostok would be better situated to take advantage of land caravan opportunities for Asian step trade then Nikolayevk
D-5: is less threatening to the Amur then Nikolayevk

I can think of a few reasons
1: We were becoming increasingly involved with The north Asia fur trade, this solidifies our access to the Amur watershed and knocks out a future competitor.
2: the previous Oda chancellor before the whole recent coup nonsense pressed for war on Russia.
3: it was a great opportunity since further war with Spain in the south was not to their interest, and neither was war with Korea or China to the west.
4: it was a good way of getting rid of excess soldiers, who might turn bandit without a war.
5: Russia if allowed to annex Amur would become a massive threat and rival to Japanese hold over the sea of Okhotsk
6: victory in this splendid little war (along with the Spanish war) is a strong symbol of reunification for a Japan devastated by Civil War.

Only southern Sakhalin is considered part of Karafuto at this time. Also Jin already split into the northern Amur khanate that's not ruled by the Aisin Gioro clan and the southern Lesser Jin khanate that's ruled by the Aisin Gioro clan.

 

[Dragongeneral]

I wonder what a japanese army uniform would look like here without he armoe going into the 18th century?

 

[Herohunter]

They annexed interior portions of Manchuria but not coastal sites.

Why not? It’s right on the border and has a natural port to resupply a garrison by sea.

Only southern Sakhalin is considered part of Karafuto at this time.

What’s the norther part called? and what’s the whole island named?

Also Jin already split into the northern Amur khanate that's not ruled by the Aisin Gioro clan and the southern Lesser Jin khanate that's ruled by the Aisin Gioro clan.

yes I wanted to talk about that. Why is it that the northern Amur Khanate is giving away a port so far south in what should be Jin turf.

 

[Herohunter]

I wonder what a japanese army uniform would look like here without he armoe going into the 18th century?

Maybe Something like this